October 29, 2009
‘Aviation in the Future’ banquet set for Nov. 6
The banquet is Friday, Nov. 6, and coincides with the aviation program’s 15th annual career fair earlier in the day. The career fair is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Student Center Ballrooms A, B, and C. The banquet, at 7 p.m. in Ballroom D, begins with a reception at 6:30 p.m.
Media Advisory
Reporters, photographers and camera crews are welcome to attend the career fair and banquet. For more information, contact David A. NewMyer at 618/453-8898.
Piccione “is a national expert on what is going on in Washington, D.C., in terms of aviation legislation,” said David A. NewMyer, chair of the Department of Aviation Management and Flight.
Piccione also held government affairs posts at Delta Air Lines, and the Airports International-North America, which NewMyer said represents airports. Delta Airlines is now the world’s largest airline.
“She has an airline, airport, and corporate aviation perspective. That makes her a unique speaker in what she can bring to students,” he said.
NewMyer expects she will also bring perspective on two aviation-related debates currently under way in Washington, D.C. -- the push for Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization to fund the FAA for three to five years, and proposed legislation regarding airline safety and pilot training. That legislation would impact airlines and could also impact collegiate aviation programs, NewMyer said.
According to her biography, Piccione was first manager and then director of government affairs for Delta Air Lines for 10 years, managing the airline’s legislative priorities and contacts with members of Congress. She also was director and later, vice president, governmental affairs and facilitation for Airports Council International-North America, serving as liaison with members of Congress and Congressional committees on aviation issues and ACI-NA priorities.
Piccione also served as a top aide to several members of Congress. She earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
NewMyer anticipates the banquet will attract about 200 people. The Aviation Management Society, a registered student organization on campus, sponsors the banquet.
Tickets are $30 for adults and non students, and $15 for SIUC students. Tickets are available online at http://ams.aviation.siuc.edu/. Tickets are also available by calling SIUC’s Department of Aviation Management and Flight at 618/453-8898, or at the aviation flight dispatch counter at Southern Illinois Airport, between Carbondale and Murphysboro.
The career fair is for the more than 400 students majoring in aviation-related programs. The career fair is also attractive to students majoring in business, communication, and engineering-related fields with an interest in aviation, NewMyer said. Several firms will look for students majoring in fields outside of aviation, he said.
NewMyer credits the firms that will take the time to attend. Among the companies expected to attend are Delta Air Lines, Great Lakes Airlines, Mesaba Airlines, The Boeing Company, and Ryan International Airlines.
“It’s an expression of support for SIUC to have all these companies come to Carbondale to participate,” he said. “It’s an exciting day when we have them. May times, they send alumni to represent them which makes it doubly fun to have the alumni come back.”
The Department of Aviation Management and Flight, and the Department of Aviation Technologies are in the College of Applied Sciences and Arts.